Question and Answer

QUESTION: What is the ruling on wearing garments on which there are pictures of animals or people? What about fixing pictures on the walls?

ANSWER: It is not permissible for a person to wear garments containing pictures of or people, nor is it permissible to wear a head-covering or the like which has pictures of people or animals on it. This is because it has been authentically reported from the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] that he said: "Verily, the angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture [Bukhari]

For this reason, we do not consider it allowed for anyone to keep pictures as reminders [of loved ones] as they say, and that it is obligatory upon anyone who has pictures as reminders in the house to destroy them, whether he has placed them in album or anywhere else.

This is because their remaining necessitates that the occupants of the house will be forbidden from having the angels enter it. The hadith which I indicated has been authentically reported from the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. And Allaah knows best.

As for fixing pictures on the walls is forbidden, even if they only include part of the body or the head; and the intention to venerate [the person] is obvious. The origin of is this exaggeration, as it has been reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas [RA], that he said regarding the idols of the people of Nuh [Peace be upon him], which they used to worship. He said that they were names of righteous men whose images they drew, in order to remind them of worship, then after a long time had passed they worshipped them. [Bukhari]